3 Best Day Trips from Madrid: Segovia, Toledo, and San Lorenzo de El Escorial | Condé Nast Traveler

"This foreboding structure, which towers high above the city, was once a 10th-century fortress; but today, Alcázar Fortress may be best known from its ubiquitous position on the cover of many a modern-day Spanish textbook. The architectural masterpiece houses a military museum with a massive trove of historical and military artifacts that cover all the epic battles and monarchical rulers of Spain. Even if you only peep the building’s façade—with its iconic towers—the visit will be worth it." - Ramsey Qubein